Myth: Mammograms prevent breast cancer.

FALSE. Mammography is a screening test to detect cancer already present in the breast. It does not prevent cancer, nor will it definitively detect the disease.

The bottom line is mammography does not prevent breast cancer. Continuing with mammography screening is a personal choice, but it does not determine what causes breast cancer, nor will it cure the disease. Ultimately, resources must be devoted to finding effective preventions and treatments for breast cancer and tools that truly detect breast cancer at a time where an intervention will help.

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Time to understand the limitations of screening mammography

How I wish screening mammography were the whole answer. I got my mammograms faithfully every year, yet they failed to find my cancer almost until it was too damn late. I was Stage IIIa. The flat, disc shaped tumor was more than two inches across.

Mammograms do a miserable job at finding Lobular Breast Cancer.

Read on from the National Breast Cancer Coalition:

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Myth #2: Mammograms can only help and not harm.

Let me make a note here: I’ve watched in dismay and horror as far too many women have allowed themselves to be frightened by one mammogram into a biopsy - and sometimes a surgical, invasive biopsy at that - or even a mastectomy on the basis of just one damn mammogram! It’s wrong.

Mammograms can be inaccurate or misinterpreted. Not all mammograms are created equally. The machines might be state of the art, but the technician might not be. Taking a good mammogram is equal parts art, science and experience. The same can be said of the radiologist reading them. If the radiologist is looking at broken bones and gall bladders as often as breast mammography, there may not be the critical level of experience you need before deciding a course of action.

A second or third mammogram, or ultrasound may be required. Even an MRI may be needed. And you should seriously consider getting them at a different facility and read by a radiologist that does only breast mammography. Think there’s nobody like that? Think again.

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Breast Thermography: not likely to replace mammography soon

I’ve seen ads in local publications selling the idea of breast thermography, and was at a local support group when the doctor who is selling this in Reno made a presentation. I, personally, found the presentation appalling in it’s complete lack of scientific evidence, while long on unsupported claims - cynically directed right at the emotional issues women face when confronted with choices about mammography. The guy got some ‘takers’ that night, and it was upsetting.

It sounds so good, so logical. The problem is however, that it isn’t.

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Painful mammograms? Here's help.

I always dreaded my annual mammogram. Having very dense and fibrocystic breasts, they would be very painful around the time of my period, and if that co-incided with a mammography appointment - oh, ouch.

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